The burden of proof for cruelty and desertion lies with the petitioner, and failure to substantiate claims results in dismissal of the divorce petition.

JUDGMENT

T. Amarnath Goud, J. - This is an appeal filed under Section 28 of the HINDU MARRIAGE ACT , 1955 against the Judgment and Decree dated 10.12.2018 and 20.12.2018 respectively passed by the learned Judge, Family Court, West Tripura, Agartala in Case No. T.S. (Divorce)83 of 2012, whereby, the divorce petition filed by the appellant herein was dismissed.

2. The facts of the case in brief, which may be relevant for the present purpose and manifest on the record are that the marriage between the appellant here, Sri. Biswajit Das, and the respondent-Wife, Smt. Gita Das was solemnized at the parental house of the respondent at Narshingarh, Agartala on 30.01.2009 as per Hindu rites and customs and after observing all necessary formalities of Hindu Marriage. After marriage, the respondent-wife herein, Smt. Gita Das went to her in-laws' house in Beltai Road No. 12 and started to live along with her husband peacefully for a few days. But, after 15 days of their marriage, the respondent went to her parent's house at Narshingarh without the consent of the appellant-husband and after 3 to 4 days, she returned back to her in-laws' house. Thereafter, on several occasions, she used to visit her parent's house without the consent of the appellant-husband herein and when the appellant raised objection in that aspect, the respondent-wife would rebuke him in filthy and unhealthy language. Apart from that, the mother-in-law along with the sister-in-law of the appellant gave a proposal to the appellant to stay in their house as 'Ghar Jamai', but, the appellant-husband did not agree with such proposal. As a result of which, the respondent-wife did not keep any relation with the appellant-husband for about 7/8 months. There was no relationship between them despite that, the respondent-wife became pregnant without the knowledge of the appellant and without any cohabitation with him. On 25.10.2010, the respondent-wife left her in-laws' house when she was carrying a pregnancy. Again on 30.01.2011, she threatened the appellant to teach him a good lesson. After filing a false case, under Section 498A of the IPC, thereafter, she did not turn up to her matrimonial home till date. The respondent-wife is cruel in maintaining the relationship of husband and wife and she has also deprived the petitioner of conjugal life after 15 days of her marriage. As a result of which, the relationship between the appellant and respondent has irretrievably broken down. Moreover, she has been staying in her parental house continuously without the consent of the appellant and as such, she deserted the appellant only to deprive him to maintain conjugal relation. It is also alleged that on 30.01.2011, she visited her matrimonial home along with 9(nine) unknown persons, and the respondent-wife and her men threatened and assaulted the petitioner-husband to not disclose any activities to others. Ultimately, finding no other alternative, the appellant-husband herein as petitioner filed a case under Section 9 of the HINDU MARRIAGE ACT , 1955 for restitution of conjugal life vide case No. T.S. (RCR) 60 of 2011. But, thereafter, the respondent-wife again filed a false case before the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Agartala on 07.03.2011 under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005. The learned Court passed an order on 30.03.2011 vide case No. CR. 39 of 2011 granting maintenance of Rs. 2,500/- per month.

3. On the ground that the respondent-wife on her own deserted the appellant for long period thereby depriving the appellant-husband to lead his conjugal life with the respondent, the appellant-husband herein as petitioner filed T.S. (Divorce)83 of 2012. The respondent-wife after receiving notice entered her appearance and also submitted her written st